Bebe Voyage Logo
  • Join Now!
  • Community
    • Coronavirus
    • Foodie Kids
    • Globetrotting parents
    • Mompreneur Series
    • News
    • About
      • Contact
  • Advice
    • Vacation Rental Directories
      • Plum guide Directory
      • VRBO Directory
    • Baby Passport Photo
    • Travel Health and Medical Advice
    • Planning A Trip With A Baby
    • Family Travel Photography
    • Budget
    • Flying with a Baby
    • Baby Jetlag
    • Entertaining Baby on Board
    • Hotel review
    • Travel & Packing Hacks
    • Responsible Travel with Kids
    • Big Adventures w/Little Ones
    • Raising global citizens
    • Staying Zen While traveling with Kids
  • Destinations
    • Vacation rental directories
      • Plum guide Directory
      • VRBO Directory
    • Family Road Trips
    • Train travel
    • Americas
      • California
      • Caribbean
      • Chicago
      • Florida and SE US
      • Hawaii
      • New York and the East Coast
      • Pacific Northwest
      • Latin America
      • Western USA
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Germany & Central Europe
      • Greece and the Balkans
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • London & the UK
      • Paris
      • Reykjavik
      • Spain and Portugal
      • Stockholm
      • The Netherlands
    • Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • Sydney
      • Tokyo
    • Middle East & Africa
      • Middle East
      • Southern Africa
  • Gear
    • Baby Carriers
    • Car seats
    • Compact Travel Strollers
    • Cribs and toddler beds
    • Fly beds
    • Food and feeding gear
    • Luggage
    • Travel accessories
    • Travel Apparel
    • Travel Services
    • Travel Toys & Entertainment
  • Shop
    • Guides and Itineraries
    • Favorite Brands
    • Travel gifts
    • Family Travel Books

    Shopping Cart

    No products in the cart.

    Sign in Sign up
    • Join Now!
    • Community
      • Coronavirus
      • Foodie Kids
      • Globetrotting parents
      • Mompreneur Series
      • News
      • About
        • Contact
    • Advice
      • Vacation Rental Directories
        • Plum guide Directory
        • VRBO Directory
      • Baby Passport Photo
      • Travel Health and Medical Advice
      • Planning A Trip With A Baby
      • Family Travel Photography
      • Budget
      • Flying with a Baby
      • Baby Jetlag
      • Entertaining Baby on Board
      • Hotel review
      • Travel & Packing Hacks
      • Responsible Travel with Kids
      • Big Adventures w/Little Ones
      • Raising global citizens
      • Staying Zen While traveling with Kids
    • Destinations
      • Vacation rental directories
        • Plum guide Directory
        • VRBO Directory
      • Family Road Trips
      • Train travel
      • Americas
        • California
        • Caribbean
        • Chicago
        • Florida and SE US
        • Hawaii
        • New York and the East Coast
        • Pacific Northwest
        • Latin America
        • Western USA
      • Europe
        • Belgium
        • Germany & Central Europe
        • Greece and the Balkans
        • Ireland
        • Italy
        • London & the UK
        • Paris
        • Reykjavik
        • Spain and Portugal
        • Stockholm
        • The Netherlands
      • Asia
        • Southeast Asia
        • Sydney
        • Tokyo
      • Middle East & Africa
        • Middle East
        • Southern Africa
    • Gear
      • Baby Carriers
      • Car seats
      • Compact Travel Strollers
      • Cribs and toddler beds
      • Fly beds
      • Food and feeding gear
      • Luggage
      • Travel accessories
      • Travel Apparel
      • Travel Services
      • Travel Toys & Entertainment
    • Shop
      • Guides and Itineraries
      • Favorite Brands
      • Travel gifts
      • Family Travel Books
    Comfort > How to Stay Healthy when Traveling Abroad with Baby

    How to Stay Healthy when Traveling Abroad with Baby

    • By guest-post
    • May 26, 2018
    • Reading Time: 4 minutes
    • Please note that the article may contain affiliate links. Bébé Voyage may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
    • No Comments
    screen-shot-2018-05-26-at-3.48.01-pm

    Traveling with your baby might be one of the most unforgettable moments in your life as a mom or dad. Creating new memories and experiencing new things in a different country with your little one is truly special. But it’s not always easy. Traveling with an infant requires careful planning. In addition to the stress of packing travel essentials for the baby, booking tickets, passing through all the security checks (and securing all the necessary documents), and ensuring your little one’s safety while traveling, you should also be mindful of ways to keep your baby healthy.

    Did you know that the inside of an airplane is a major germ hotspot? From tray tables to aisle seats, bacteria happily thrive inside the plane, exposing you and your poor baby to varying illnesses and diseases. Well, your agony doesn’t end when you go down from the plane. Actually, it’s even worse in the airport! Surfaces in airport terminals may have even higher germ counts than on airplanes.

    And, when you think you have finally survived by the time you exit the airport, think again. Food poisoning, germs in hotel surfaces, and so on are always ready to strike. Don’t worry, you need not cancel your travels abroad or leave your baby with the grandparents and take on the flight alone. With careful planning and preparation, you can protect your baby from health hazards.

    Here are tips to stay healthy when traveling abroad with your baby:

    Consult your pediatrician before you go.

    Check with your pediatrician to know if your baby is old enough and well enough to travel, and if she needs certain vaccinations beforehand for extra protection. Your doctor can also offer suggestions on how to keep your baby healthy while traveling.

    Choose the flight schedule that’s best for your baby.

    The first step towards ensuring your baby’s health during travel is to choose the flight schedule that’s most suitable for your baby. As much as possible, book the trip during your baby’s sleepiest time. A well-slept baby is a happy and healthy baby. Just one day of sleep deprivation can greatly weaken your child’s immunity, increasing her risk of illness.

    Pack your own food and medications.

    At least for the initial flight, prepare your baby’s food, as not all airlines have it on their menu. It is also a great way to ensure that your child is hydrated and eating healthy foods. Also, don’t forget to bring a little first aid kit and some basic medications, such as paracetamol, antihistamine, and any other medications or vitamins that were prescribed by your child’s pediatrician.

    Keep surfaces around you and your baby clean.

    Don’t forget to bring a few must-haves, such as hand sanitizers and some travel size medical-grade disinfectant wipes. Clean surfaces like arm rests, screens, table trays, head rests, and anything else your baby comes in contact with using disinfecting wipes.

    Take care of babys tummy.

    Diarrhea and gastrointestinal illness are among the most common problems that younger kids and infants experience when travelling abroad. That is because they have little immunity against food-and waterborne pathogens. Breastfeeding is a great way to supply your baby with immunity-boosting nutrients s/he needs to fight digestive disorders. If breastfeeding in public places is not an option for you, you can use a good breast pump and wash the parts with hot, distilled water. Ask your pediatrician about probiotic supplements, and use purified water when brushing teeth, preparing food and mixing formula. If your baby has food allergies or requires a special formula, research what the brand equivalents at your destination are and know where to find them before you go.

    Make sure your baby is well-rested.

    All throughout your travels, allow your baby to rest and get enough sleep. You might be tempted to spend the entire day outside of your hotel, but you need to consider your baby’s sleep requirements. A well-rested baby is a healthy baby. If it isn’t possible to return to the hotel, make sure that your baby has a comfortable space and quiet environment when taking a nap. We’ve napped just about everywhere, like under a shaded beach tent/umbrella or simply reclining the stroller flat and using a sun shade (we love throwing a muslim Aden & Anais blanket on top of the stroller canopy for extra sun protection too).

    Know about the nearest hospitals or clinics.

    If your baby has symptoms of flu or any illness, you want to find a doctor as soon as possible. Part of your trip preparation would be to look for hospitals or pediatric clinics where you can take your baby in case of sickness or emergencies. (We have these all laid out for you in our complete Destination Guides.)

    Observe food safety measures.

    Food poisoning, diarrhea and other digestive problems are normally caused by contaminated food. If you’re feeding your baby with dairy products, make sure they are pasteurized. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and avoid buying snacks from sources where food might be unsafe. If your child is eating fish or meat, make sure it’s thoroughly cooked.

    Whenever planning for a trip, remember to stay on top of your baby’s health, and hopefully avoid a dream family vacation turning into an unexpected nightmare. Things will undoubtedly happen from time-to-time, however, and you’ll forever be thankful for your preparation and planning in case of minor accident or illness.

    Written by Mariam Novak

    SaveSave

    • abroad, Airlines, airplane, airport, Allergies, baby, baby health, baby travel, beach, beach tent, book, destination, family, family life, Family Travel, family vacation, flight, flying, grandparents, health, hotel, infant, kids, medical, packing, pediatrician, plane, sleep, stay healthy, stroller, travel, Travel blogger, travel health, travel with baby, travel with kids, traveling, traveling abroad, travelling, vacation
    Facebook
    Twitter
    LinkedIn
    Pinterest
    guest-post

    guest-post

    All Posts »
    Become a member
    PrevPrevious10 Budget-Friendly Tips for Traveling with Kids
    NextGear Review: Babymoov Anti-UV TentNext

    Responses

    Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    About Author

    guest-post

    Follow Bebe Voyage

    JOIN THE CLUB

    DISCOVER ALL THE BENEFITS OF OUR MULTIPLE LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP
    sIGN UP NOW
    Cool

    Recent Posts

    • Baby Friendly Beaches Around the World

    • Travel Making a Comeback and More…

    • Christmas in London with Kids

    • Christmas in Paris with Kids

    • Travel Essentials for a European Trip…

    Login

     
     
    Forgot Password

    Register

    Who’s Online

    Online 0
    There are no users currently online
    Info
    • Contact
    • About
    • Media Appearances
    Menu
    • Contact
    • About
    • Media Appearances
    Blog
    Connect with Bébé Voyage
    Facebook-square Instagram Pinterest Twitter At
    BACK TO TOP
    © COPYRIGHT BEBE VOYAGE, LLC 2021
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms Of Service
    • Terms & Conditions

    Get the Ulimate
    Family packing List

    Includes just about every type of trip we could think of, various ages, and links to the best travel products we could find.